Hayworth Passes On Health Care Plan She’s Pushing For Seniors

ICYMI: Sen. Nan Hayworth defended the Medicare overhaul proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan during a CapTon interview last night, toeing the GOP line by insisting the so-called “premium support” plan is essentially the same coverage that members of Congress enjoy.

Oh, except her, that is.

The freshman Republican, who ousted Democrat John Hall in NY-19 last fall, revealed she opted to keep her own private insurance when she went to Washington in January.

Hayworth said Ryan’s plan, which the Republicans passed unanimously without a single Democratic vote, would “give seniors into the future the power to do what they know best in their own lives.”

“So by a premium support program, which is what we have now as members of Congress – I personally have my old insurance – but members of Congress have a program that’s been widely praised that provides premium support and lets them choose among an array of approved insurance programs. And that’s what Medicare would do,” the congresswoman concluded.

Hayworth was an opthamologist before she was elected. She and her husband, Scott, co-founded the Mount Kisco Medical Group, of which he is still the president and CEO. Scott Hayworth is an OB-GYN and chairs the Board of Directors at the American Medical Group Association.

The congresswoman sought to put a positive spin on her decision, arguing that she’s actually doing the public a favor by opting to pay for her own insurance.

“Well, not because it’s a bad program at all,” she said when I asked why she had decided not to go with the congressional health plan.

“But simply because, actually, I’m saving taxpayers some dollars by continuing my old insurance, which was a very cost-effective thing to do.”